QUAKERTOWN, Pa. – Bucknell women’s tennis continued its hot start to the season, improving to 5-1 with a 6-1 win over Marist on Friday at the Tennis Zone & Fitness Center. The Bison won all three doubles matches and took five of six singles contests.

“This was a battle. Marist was a really good, solid team,” Bucknell head coach Rebecca Helt said. “We battled back-and-forth in doubles and were lucky to pull out that point. I think that gave us good momentum going into the singles. We went up 3-1 in the match with Court 6,3 and 5 all splitting sets at the same time, so we had to battle for the match. It was nice to see Mel (Parks) at number six pull out an easy win in the third set to clinch the match.”

Melissa Parks had a tough match to stay unbeaten at 5-0 during the spring. She won the first set against Elizabeth Brozovich on court six, but had to go three sets after a 7-5 loss in the second. The third set was no problem with the senior captain winning 6-1.

Parks was one of three Bucknell players to keep their perfect dual records intact. Sophomore Lauren Fishbein improved to 5-0 with a 6-3, 6-0 victory on court two, while junior Madeline Melch upped her record to a team-best 6-0 with a 6-0, 6-2 decision on court four.

Freshman Paige Leavy and sophomore Mishi Papich each went three sets in their wins on court three and court five, respectively. Leavy won by 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 scores, and Papich was a winner by 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 scores.

Gannon and Parks improved to 3-0 with a 7-5 win at No. 3 doubles. Also winning were senior Michele Urbinati and Fishbein on court one and Leavy and junior Emilie Bush on court two.

Bucknell will play against Delaware in Elkton, Maryland, on Saturday, March 4.